Where Are You Hanging Out and Who’s There?

“Please be responsible for the energy you bring into this place.” Of all the things I have ever heard, that statement certainly makes my list of favorites. Thank you, Oprah.

Here’s the thing…we are energetic beings. We are constantly emitting energy. We can’t help it. As long as we’re alive, we are sending out vibrations that go out and into the world around us. And our energy then links up with the other energy that is out in the world and that’s what we experience when we walk into a place and say, “Wow this place is electric!” or “You can cut the tension in here with a knife.” It’s all a function of energy and if we’re there, we’re part of creating it.

Where am I going with this? I’m going here:

IF YOU ARE HANGING OUT IN PLACES THAT DON’T HAVE ENERGY THAT FEELS GOOD AND MOVES YOU FORWARD, OR IF YOU ARE HANGING OUT WITH PEOPLE WHOSE ENERGY DOESN’T SUPPORT YOU AND LIFT YOU UP… IT’S TIME TO CONSIDER MOVING OUT AND MOVING ON.

Why would we go to that bar, book club, job, luncheon, or log onto Facebook and look at so and so’s update, if we’ve been there and done that before and left feeling worse than when we got there? Seriously. Why would we do that? If the energy that’s in the places we spend time doesn’t feel good and help move us in the direction we want for our lives, we are choosing that. It’s the same with the people in our lives. If after spend time with someone or a group of someones we feel depleted, exhausted or less than, we are choosing that. Can we all agree that that makes no sense! Will you promise yourself that you will look at that?

You choose your hangouts.

It took me a long time to get this. For most of my life, I desperately just wanted to fit in. I thought struggling to find my place and taking the dings of criticism and judgment were required in order to be part of a group. Nonsense! Why would I even want to be part of a group where there is criticism and judgment? I can’t think of a single reason. Can you? If I can’t show up 100% me, that place and those folks are not for me.

With deliberate effort, I’m now part of several amazing hangouts and tribes of people. You can create your own feel-good places and tribes too!

The most amazing group I’m now part of is a group my college roommate founded, as she puts it, “by accident.” Well man alive, Lisa, I’m glad you goofed up and created this group! It’s a running group on Facebook and outside of Lisa, I’ve never met any of the other nearly 200 members! Yet, this is a place I go for encouragement, understanding, and sharing my ups and downs. There is always a heaping helping there for me of whatever I need, whenever I need it. You should feel the energy exchange! When someone is struggling, there is such an outpouring of support. When someone is celebrating, there is a tremendous shared excitement among the group. There’s no comparing, backstabbing, or ‘shoulds’ in this group…just encouragement and support. We can do amazing things when we feel encouraged and supported!

Do you hang out in places like that? With people who encourage and support and lift you up? You can if you choose it. You choose your hangouts and you choose the people you hang out there with.

Thanks for being here. I’d love to know what you think and also to stay connected via my Facebook page or on Twitter. And as always, feel free to share this with other like-minded and like-hearted souls!